I love the concept of a load bearing vest with MOLLE pouches all over so I can customize a solution that maximizes mobility and suits my exact needs. Unfortunately one of the things I need is for my gear to be compatible with my volunteer work with a local SAR group. I'm lucky that most of my hiking gear fits the bill. Unfortunately anything tactical either comes in camo or desert, or black...police blue if you're lucky.

I recently learned about the RACK vest from Specialty Defense Systems. It would be perfect as it would allow me to wear a proper backpack at the same time as a customized yellow vest.

Does anybody know where you can buy MOLLE compatible gear which is made in 'safe' colors like orange, red, or (preferably) yellow? The only option I can think of is to go to Drop Zone Tactical as they make their gear right here in Edmonton...unfortunately that kind of quality is out of my price range...especially for a custom order.

As an update I phoned Drop Zone and they don't make their load bearing gear in 'non tactical' colours...they do make their pouches in various colours however. They suggested I just cover a black vest in yellow pouches. At $25-$50 a pouch I'd say it's a tad out of my price range.

Can't you just sew on some reflective/fluorescent patches on you're vest?

I do know there are special vests for ambulance-crews that have bright colours..

Wildland fire fighters gear...

Like http://www.nationalfirefighter.com/index.php?cPath=152_15_172

This link was picked at random from a yahoo search.

Or Chief's Supply too: http://www.chiefsupply.com/Fire,Rescue/Wildland/Packs,Harnesses

Following JIM's idea, a lot/most of the military style gear has Velcro loop fabric on the face of it to allow for unit/other patches to be attached. So you could probably go with affordable MOLLE compatible gear if you can find reflective/fluorescent patches with a Velcro hook backing.

Take a look at the 'Work and Rescue' series from Petzl. They have harnesses, climbing gear and headlamps (LED, natch) in yellow and black.

http://en.petzl.com/petzl/ProAccueil#

Click on 'Products' top left.

HTH,

A

I'm not a fan of solid-front harnesses. Get a cheap one and try the basic configuration, you'll see why I like a split front. But you are right, the use of a chest rig with a few big pouches is great with a pack- and you'll find the pack probably feels a little more natural with the stuff hanging out in front, but if you aren't careful you'll turn into the Stay Puffed Marshmellow Man. *grins*

As for color... There are custom makers out there. I've spoken with the gentleman who runs Black Ops Tactical Nylon about a custom pack I was thinking about, his rates are reasonable, but I'm not sure if he does bright colors normally. (I found a really good deal on the production pack I was also looking at, and had the pouches on hand to rig it how I wanted, so you might not want to mention my name *blush*.) When Doug designed his aviator's kits, he went with an outfit called Semper Paratus Tactical for the pack, they should be able to do it. It will take some looking, but it shouldn't be too hard.

However, custom gear is often expensive gear. MOLLE gear, by definition, is covered with lots of webbing points. Getting someone to make you up high-visibility panels that you can attach is easy, it is just a little webbing, some bright cordura, some snaps or velcro, and thread. Anyone who can sew can make them.

If you want to see what the rig I use looks like, click . Retrofiting signal panels to the front of the main pockets would be easy enough, as you can see.

John Willis runs Original SOE Gear and will make anything you want out of any color Cordura you want, even pink. He got his start long ago making custom web gear for SEALs in California. All report are that his nylon gear is the toughest out there. But, 1) wait times for his gear are very long and 2) you will pay for his quality work.

Another possible option for you is the fact that a lot of today's tactical nylon is available in various shades of khaki or coyote brown, which isn't quite as militaristic as camo or black.

I've recently become interested in making my own tactical gear for similar reasons.

I might be willing to take a stab at something simple like a split-front MAV in yellow (might have to be yellow w/ black webbing) eventually - on strictly an amateur basis.

I wonder if there is a huge un-met demand out there for high-vis tactical gear. It seems that if someone tested the market and there turned out to be serious demand, the big names could jump right in simply by adding some other colors to their fabric inventory.

Ok here's a question that might have some bearing on this topic.

Can lets say OD green ammo pouch be bleached and then dyed the chosen color?

My personal experience with tactical gear is extremely limited but my experience with finding places to put gear is extensive and when I look at what's normal for EMT/Fire/SAR use they seem to be just regular vests with big pockets in the front (like the picture JIM posted above)...they're not 'load bearing' and in no way can they be customized. As a volunteer SAR member I have to provide all my own gear...why put it in a vest that it doesn't fit in? I can't be alone...there must be demand.

I like the tip about the light colored khaki or desert/coyote colors. They would blend in well and wouldn't look tacticool if paired with a nice pair of hard wear khaki pants which matched.

I think it would be okay for bags/jackets/etc., but not for anything load-bearing. The bleaching process may weaken the fibres of the material, so be careful. I suppose it's the same warning about putting stickers on, or painting, a motorcycle helmet- you have to know for sure that the stuff won't react with the helmet material and weaken it.

A

Good point.

It would seem that the best options are also the most expensive...but that's just how things go. I think I'm going to try a compromise. Stay with the standard SAR vest (it's the only freebie in the whole deal) but purchase pocket organizers similar to this.

I'll keep the items I need to get at fast where I know they're at. Any items which just won't fit I'll put on my belt...might end up with Batman syndrome but the price is right.

I don't know if I would say high-viz, but certainly something other than mil-issued colors.

But I've also been trying to find a PALS holster for a revolver for four years now. The military contracts are too large, and the side market of mall ninjas and airsofters is just as big, so the LE portion gets dwarfed. I don't think the manufacturer's perceive there to be a large enough market for hiker/hunter items. Everyone who's interested, we should pick one or two makers and poke them as a group.

A lot of guys in the tactical forums spray paint their webbing to desired colors and it acctually looks good. Never seen it done with bright colors thou...

a couple companies make decent SAR vests but (with one exception) none in bright colors that are worth a damn. I have spent years looking without success. I did find a few manufacturers willing to make current or custom products in any color of cordura, however you pay the price and wait times can be from extreme to ridiculous. I do have a custom manufactuer that is currently making a Bail-out bag for me, that I plan on having him build me a custom rig for SAR work... until that happy day I am still tinkering with my setup.

EMS vests like JIM posted have multiple issues that make them unsuitable for Wilderness SAR or even USAR. These vests (as another noted) are far from "Load Bearing" and most are uncomfortable after a short period of time. These vest may be good in some situations, carrying limited amounts of gear from an ambulance to a wrecked vehicle in a ditch for example they just don't work for SAR.

Special Force's Gear makes a couple SAR/Survival vests that they offer in Blaze Orange (and the cheaper one in Tan). I have used one of these in the past but found that it failed to fit my carrying needs in the long run. While this vest is IDEAL for mounted SAR work (ATV and Horse) it is uncomfortable with a pack and the attached expandable pack is not quite big enough for longer missions with more then personal survival equipment.

I have recently started using a TrueNorth Aerovest which is much better suited for SAR and is comfortable enough for use with pack. The vest carries enough for personal survival needs as well as some basic tools and medical gear. It is still black, but has some reflective on it. It is a load bearing vest and can be equipped with a belt and additional pouches. This vest is better suited for USAR (which it was designed for) and shorter simpler missions (less then 24 hours). In fact, setup right with a belt and additional pouches/packs this vest is more versatile then the SAR vests mentioned above (although the more expensive SAR vest is built by SoTech and it is bombproof).

Also a high quality vest, designed again primarily for USAR is Wolfpack Gear USAR Load Bearing Harness. Again, it is comfortable and can be expanded with a belt and pouches. But again, is only offered in Black.

In the end, for longer missions I choose to simply use a larger radio chest rig that I can carry some basic survival stuff and admin tools in and keep the rest of my kit in pockets and the lion's share in a good pack like the Conterra Longbow Ranger (link chosen for it's pictures, after the exceptional service I have received from Conterra I purchase all my stuff direct).

Well that answers my question, I just talked to Nick over at County.com and he said you can't bleach or dye Codura Nylon.
I guess I should have known that but then me not being a taylor or in the textile business I guess it slipped by me. Was worth a try though.

I just came up with another idea to compromise. First, I love the harnesses Alan referenced...looks like awesome hardware but don't think they'd be quite right once I have the yellow vest on for visibility AND a backpack.

I was thinking about my previous post about putting stuff on my belt instead and I realized that this too is a bad option as I could need to wear my backpack and it has a very wide weight supporting belt which would interfere.

I'm now thinking about supplementing my load bearing needs with MOLLE drop legs so that I don't need so much load bearing out of the vest. They also seem to come in a much wider range of colors and aren't nearly as expensive.

I don't know if this is pertinent to "load bearing" gear,but Gerber makes 1 or 2 hydro packs in screaming fluorescent green,fire resistant material w/reflective strapping.The 1 I got Only holds about 300 cu.in., but comes with a 70 oz. semi rigid reservoir for either hot/cold fluids which, if needed, could be removed and filled with more gear( just checked-the other unit is strictly hydration). Has anyone else checked these out?

Try it for a while. You'll discover that you NEED suspenders.

You might also discover how well you can walk when you feet fall asleep- in my experience, most drop leg stuff is going to bounce and shift unless tighten it up more than you want if you are going to be on foot or wearing it for an extended period. I'll wear them for short term, but not for the long haul. One thing I have found is that it works better (at least for me) if it is very little drop, so it rides high on the thigh/low on the hip. Other people's results might very.

I've looked at using hydration carriers before, but never done it. It does have some merit for short range stuff.

For people thinking about it, a liter is about 60 cubic inches.

I never understood the benefit of hydration carriers until I moved to AZ. Hydration bladders won't ever complete replace canteens or bottles but when you need hydration on the move or while working there is nothing better. Even over long distance treks, multiple day backpacking trips I use hydration bladders for all my water carrying needs with a nalgene bottle for mixing nutrition and drinks in. Initially I was worried about the durability of the bladders, but after using a single CamelBak bladder for a single wild land fire season without issues I am sold (other brands haven't faired as well, MSR's new bladder comes to mind)

Drop leg pouches are a PITA for most SAR work. They are uncomfortable and ride down with walking. Like Ironraven said, you WILL need suspenders.

Why not just wear bright colored clothing under your gear?

Click, just trust me.

My first reaction to seeing this pack was to flinch. It is LBT, and you are paying some for a name, but at least someone out there is doing MOLLE in colors that hurt the eye.

Most people who try dropleg rigs come to hate them. On another note, I recently trained with a guy who tried to dye a tan colored Camelbak pack black. It did not turn out well.

Hacksaw came across a vest vest while surfing tonight. it's not yellow but it can be ordered in hunter orange maybe it will work for you. couldn't get a picture downloaded but here is the web page.
http://www.specialforces.com/store/catalog/product_27264_OP_Survival_Vest.html

Nice find! I like that vest a lot. I wonder if the 'hidden holster' option could hold a Henry US Survival Rifle all packaged up...it may fit even without that option judging by the pictures.

There is a link to that company and vest in my previous post.

The hidden holster will not hold the henry rifle, but one would easily fit in the attached backpack.

How about the Camelbak Upland Strap vest? When I was an EMT we generally avoided fancy vests, clothing or jump bags with too many pockets for fear of being called a Ricky Rescue.

Just when I thought I'd seen everything...a Camelbak vest! I like that too.

I can see what you mean about being called Ricky Rescue...but I'd rather take the bad nickname and be known as the guy who had what was needed. I've only been a SAR volunteer for a month and I'm already building a reputation for having the kitchen sinks in every pocket.

Even when I consider myself unprepared I'm more prepared than at least one other person around me...and typically prepared enough for what I encounter.

SAR is not the same as EMS, the scorn that some EMS providers have towards those dubbed "Ricky Rescue" isn't typically found in SAR.

While I am not one of those who carries the world with me on my belt or in a fanny pack working EMS (I carry what I need and use), I can't look down on those who have the passion for their calling as long as they don't just focus on the equipment. Unfortunately, the history of Fire and EMS is littered with posers (for lack of a better word) that are all toys and no knowledge, experience or even training that have spawned the "Ricky Rescue" and similar titles... Though, you won't find many providers calling well equipped vets those names .

As for SAR, there are significantly different survival needs vs. EMS. Some (to many) SAR volunteers discount the considerable dangers in SAR operations and far too often many are less then adequately prepared (in my opinion). In my opinion, you can't have a better rep then being the guy who has the know how and tools to get the job done.

Extremely good point. Good gear is no substitute for adequate knowledge and skill.

I've been trying very hard lately not to buy any new gear unless it's absolutely needed. Forces me to get creative with what I have.

Hacksaw -- Check out Gear911 (www.gear911.com). They make stuff for wildland firefighters; I have the Helitack web gear & day pack (but seldom use the day pack). Rides better than any military web gear I ever wore. Not much space for MOLLE pouches, but worth looking at. -- Greg (I'm a SAR K9 handler)

I think the Gear911 stuff looks the best so far. I really like how low slung the web gear is...could wear a standard issue vest over top easily and wouldn't have to replace something.

Nice tip Greg, thanks!

Hi folks, this is my first post and since it deals with search and rescue, well it caught my attention. I'm a member of a wilderness search and rescue team based in Northern Virginia, see us at smrg.org for more info.

I've been using a vest along with a backpack (an Arc'Teryx Bora 35 and most recently a TAD Gear FAST Pack EDC) for several years and thought I'd share my experiences. I was originally using a surplus Aircrew Survival Armor Recovery Vest, Insert and Packets (SARVIP) Vest worn by U.S. military helicopter crews.



Even though this vest was not originally intended for civilian search and rescue use, I was able to adapt it to fit my needs until I could find something better. I needed a vest with numerous pockets of various sizes to carry such things as my handheld VHF radio w/spare battery, GPS, map(s), pad and pens, head lamp and flash light, compass, whistle, lighter and other fire starting implements, spare batteries, flagging tape, medical gear, snack foods, and other odds and ends.

I had been searching to replace my aging SARVIP survival/medical vest for many months. I purchased it used and it started to deteriorate due to the wear and tear from training events and SAR missions. I needed to find a replacement more closely suited for search and rescue purposes before the SARVIP vest fell apart.

I finally found the Medical Trauma Vest manufactured by AWS, Inc., in Fayetteville, North Carolina.



It's a great vest and has served me well on field training events and wilderness SAR missions and rescues for over a year now. I'm in the process of completing a detailed review of the vest from the wilderness SAR perspective. Once a few more details and images are added, it'll be done. I'll post a link to it when it's done.

Welcome to the fire MtnRescue! Thanks for the info on your vests, that was really good.

-Blast

Yes, Welcome!

How does that second vest work when wearing a medium to large pack over top?

I haven't experienced any problems with either my Conterra Alpine Crag backpack (my winter pack) or hauling one of my team's Conterra ALS Extreme Packs.

Initially I was concerned that the upper pocket I use for my VHF handheld radio would interfere with the Conterra pack's shoulder strap. It hasn't been an issue. Also the waist belts on both packs rides just below the bottom of the vest. So there's no intereference there too. If I was to add a duty belt to the bottom of the vest, which it is set up for one, then the pack waist belt would ride on top of the duty belt.